Solomon: Texans receiver Jean could do worse than to emulate Johnson

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But Tuesday, Lestar Jean ran in Johnson’s footsteps as he streaked downfield past Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning for a long reception that was the biggest play in the pretend practice that is the Texans’ organized team activities.

Jean did the same thing in the team’s previous workout Thursday, leaving a couple of helpless defensive backs in his wake as he made a would-be touchdown grab.

All morning Tuesday, Jean was in Johnson’s spot in the formation while Johnson, who is recovering from minor knee surgery, watched the offseason workout. And Jean, who like Johnson is a Miami native, persistently has been in the perennial Pro Bowler’s ear.

“He’s always up on me,” Johnson said. “Asking me this, asking me that. Wondering how I do this, wondering how I do that.”

Jean, 24, was one of the training camp stars last summer before a shoulder injury put him on injured reserve for the season. But when given the opportunity, he lived up to his nickname “Big Play,” making impressive catches his norm. He had a couple of long catches in limited preseason action and made more in practice.

As University of Houston coach Tony Levine has been known to crack, there’s no question he was first-team all-shorts.

That’s OK with Jean, because he has to win the battle on the practice field before he gets a shot under the Sunday afternoon lights.

We’re talking about a player who wasn’t drafted when he came out of Florida Atlantic in 2011 but showed enough promise that the Texans are giving him first crack at claiming the No. 3 wide receiver position they opened when they released Jacoby Jones in April.

“I feel both — pressure and excitement,” Jean said. “I’m just trying to get in there, work my way into the mix.”
Excellent preparation

Jean hasn’t wasted the chance. Some young receivers struggle to learn a position, let alone the offensive system. Not Jean.

“The kid has really put time in as far as preparing himself,” receivers coach Larry Kirksey said. “He has engulfed himself in the offense. He knows all three positions. His attention to detail is excellent.

“He’s got a ways to go, but so far we like what we see.”

Knowing all three positions should get Jean on the field sooner.

Jean has good size (6-3, 205 pounds), but he isn’t a classic stretch-the-field wideout with blazing speed (a 4.52-second 40-yard dash). Still, he gets open and makes plays on the ball, two aspects of the position with which the speedier Jones struggled.

Actually, those are the two most important duties for a receiver. Running fast is supposed to help accomplish those, but football isn’t track.

“He is pretty smooth, a deceiving athlete,” Kirksey said. “He is on the field, and it doesn’t look like he is moving. But then all of a sudden, he is past you.”

Good opportunity

With Johnson out, Kevin Walter is the lone Texans receiver with NFL experience. The Texans drafted DeVier Posey (third round) and Keshawn Martin (fourth round) to shore up the position, and they are almost certain to sign a veteran, maybe two, to compete in camp.

On Tuesday, Posey joined Walter and Jean in three-wideout sets. With T.J. Yates subbing for Matt Schaub at quarterback, Texans receivers won more than their share of battles.

A win here or there isn’t good enough, Posey said.

“At this level, you have to be consistent,” he said. “They want you to play your best all of the time, not just some of the time. I have to work on being consistent.”

It starts with taking the right steps. Jean appears to be doing that.

“Following Andre’s footsteps is the best thing for him,” said Kirksey, who was 49ers receivers coach from 1994-99. “I remember Terrell Owens watching and following Jerry Rice. After a while, I couldn’t tell the difference between the two guys on the field. That’s a special situation, but hopefully this will be something like the same scenario.”